IonQ researchers have estimated that a fault-tolerant quantum computer requires 19,397 physical qubits and 1,457 logical qubits to compromise the secp256k1 elliptic curve used in Bitcoin. Running Shor's algorithm on such a system would take approximately 25.7 days per attempt.
The study accounts for the specific trapped-ion architecture, compiler, and error correction systems. IonQ expects to develop hardware capable of meeting these requirements by 2028. The company emphasizes that this assessment focuses on data authentication rather than decrypting intercepted traffic.
Simultaneously, IonQ secured an $8.18 million contract with Congruity360 to develop quantum-resistant network infrastructure. The project will integrate IonQ’s Clavis QKD and Solteris devices into data management platforms to protect sensitive information for corporate clients.
The new security solution targets sectors requiring long-term data protection, including finance, healthcare, defense, and manufacturing. The implementation utilizes post-quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution to secure data transmission between corporate facilities.
